'Mad' Irishman to sail to Scotland in a bathtub

Retirement doesn't have to mean chronic boredom and slippers. Just look at Mervyn Kinkead. Whilst some retirees are happy to just sing in the bath, Kinkead plans to sail in his all the way to Scotland.

That's right, the self-proclaimed 'mad' Irishman who's never sailed a boat in his life says he's going to sail his bathtub to Scotland for charity.

'I may be a bit mad, but hopefully I've got some sense too,' Mervyn Kinkead told the press about his plans to cross the Irish Sea in his bathtub.

Kinkead, a 65-year-old retiree, will launch his bathtub from the small coastal town of Donaghadee, sailing single-handedly across the sea until he eventually docks in the Scottish village of Portpatrick.

But he won't be paddling. An engineer friend has equipped Kinkead's small, single-man tub with boat stabilizers and an outboard motor. He hopes to make his maiden voyage in September, provided he weather cooperates.

'We have tested the bath in ideal conditions and there is no doubt it can work,' he told the press.

Kinkead has also applied to Guinness World Records to see if his voyage would be recognized. Meanwhile he's taking no chances: 'My friend, who is an experienced sailor, will be following me in his boat and guiding me in the right direction,' he said. 'We will be taking all the necessary safety precautions and I am just hoping the big ferries stay well away.'

'I'm looking forward to giving it a go,' he added. 'If anything goes wrong I will be able to swim to the boat but fingers crossed it should all be okay.'